Heat visit the White House before facing the Wiz

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2014-01-15 00:35

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At one point, the Boston Celtics were considered a surprise team in the NBA with a first-year coach and a roster full of mostly no-names. Wednesday, they unofficially went into tank mode with unloading Jordan Crawford in a three-team trade that scored the Celtics draft picks.

The Celtics (13-26) received little-used center Joel Anthony from the Miami Heat, who sent a future first-round and second-round pick. It becomes two second-round picks if the Philadelphia 76ers, who originally sent the protected pick to Miami, miss the playoffs this season and in 2014-15. The Heat acquire Toney Douglas from the Golden State Warriors and shed $10 million in salary and luxury tax by shipping Anthony who makes $3.8 million this season and next.

The Warriors receive Crawford and MarShon Brooks from Boston, with both cap-friendly players still on rookie scale contracts. Brooks ($1.2 million) is a free agent after the season while Crawford, who is making $2.1 million, is restricted. The deal was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports!

Crawford, a castoff from the Wizards late last season, was having his best statistical season of his career for Boston with 13.7 points and 5.7 assists and making 35 starts. The Celtics, however, are about to get Rajon Rondo back from knee surgery that has kept him out more than a year and Crawford became a good bargaining chip to secure future assets. They've fallen from first place in the Atlantic Division to fourth and are on a nine-game losing streak.

The Heat want to re-sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the offseason but have to reduce payroll. They've been trying to find takers for Anthony all season, a former starter who only has appeared in 12 games.